Good Evening Gentlemen,
First time poster here, but I've spent a few days reviewing everyone's CRSC experiences and reading up on the mentoring from the moderators and ambassadors. I know nothing is bulletproof and from what I've read here, it seems that PTSD is a difficult condition to get approved for CRSC. I was an Intelligence Specialist and I know that rate is not normally associated with Combat Deployments. I'm currently going through the process of getting my CRSC package ready to send to the Navy board, and would like a gut check on if I have a good shot at it being approved (in addition to some secondary conditions), and a further sanity check on if there's anything I'm forgetting to include, and anything that I do not have that might hurt my chances. I have questions regarding what to put in Block G of the DD2860. Apologies in advance for the long post ...
I was medically retired from the Navy in 2020 for PTSD following an incident in 2018 where I was ordered by my Command to seek help from a professional at Behavioral Health. My PTSD stemmed from a 14 month deployment to Afghanistan, where I was sent out as an Individual Augmentee (Navy slang for a one of one deployment, detached from my parent Command and imbedded in a unit, so as a result I don't have much documentation of the events of the deployment other than my 1650/3 and Eval.) I was imbedded in a MARSOC team, and forward deployed to a small FOB for 14 months as a UAV Operator. I ate, slept and lived with this team for that period until my IA was up and it was time to come home. I supported 52+ combat operations directing the team during numerous fire fights via radio, and was responsible for giving the call of Positive ID and authorizing the release of ordinance, resulting in the neutralization of 13 HVTs. During UAV recovery operations, due to the geographic needs of how we had to recover the drone (a capture device on a raised hill that was easily visible to anyone in the village from outside of the FOB) I was targeted by small arms fire and mortar fire on numerous occasions while retrieving the Drones. Additionally our ECP was attacked multiple times, and I was required to defend the checkpoint with my weapon while MARSOC conducted clearing operations.
My BH Doc diagnosed me with severe PTSD and I was shortly Med Boarded after. The PEB found me unfit due to PTSD (CR, AC, CZONE) and the board's PEB findings further stated that "the disability was the direct result of a combat related injury" as well as "The Board finds further that the disability was incurred in the line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict. All board members concurred." When I received my retirement orders, they had the annotations V1 - Disability due to armed conflict and V2 - Disability incurred in a combat zone. I was placed on the TDRL at 70% for PTSD and received a VA rating of 100% P&T. When out-processing the PEBLO told me to make sure that I applied for CRSC due to my situation as I was entitled to it. I've now received my PDRL letter (dropped to 50%) and am going about the process.
What I've included (if I miss it in the list, and it's required on the DD2860/CRSC page, I've included it and just forgot to post) and some notes on each ... Of the things listed below, is there anything I'm missing that severely hurts my chances of being approved?
- Admin: My DD214, Retirement Orders, PDRL Letter, PEB Findings
- Med Records: Two years worth from BH that saw me in the Navy, with detailed comments from the provider on the combat events that resulted in my PTSD, triggers, as well as treatment plans and medication. I do not have records from the deployment period because young me "wasn't a weenie and could never get PTSD or go talk to someone"
- VA Code Sheet and VA Decision Letters (Note here: the VA Decision Letter for PTSD says nothing about combat but that it resulted from a 'stressful event' is this an issue?)
- Evals: I have the Eval from my unit covering 2012-2013, which includes writeups on the combat ops support, and HVTs neutralized from my UAV operations
- Awards: Army Achievement Medal (Note: the 1650/3 here is sparse, due to the nature of Special Operations Task Force and says nothing specific about operations, only "for excellent support to the SOTF mission") as well as my Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Qualification. I do not have a CAB, or any combat specific award and was told by the MARSOC unit that they didn't do those and I was Navy.
- Non-Medical Assessment from my O-5 at the time of the Med Board submitted to the PEB. The NMA clearly states my PTSD stemmed from a combat deployment with MARSOC, and details the amount of operations I took place in, the instances where I had to defend the FOB ECP, circumstances where I took direct and indirect fire during recovery operations, and his recommendation for removal from service due to the severity of my PTSD. (Note here: The Commander that wrote it was NOT the Commander from my war-time chain of command, though he did know my OIC in Afghanistan and reached out to him for confirmation and his comments during the assessment writeup.)
Now onto the DD2860 ... I'm claiming four conditions
1 of 4 - PTSD (70%): I detailed the above events of supporting combat ops, directing MARSOC on the ground during fire fights, ordering the release of ordinance on insurgents, instances where the FOB was breached and I was required to defend it, and instances where I was shot at by small arms and IDF as the cause of my PTSD.
2 of 4 - Tinnitus (10%): I stated that my tinnitus stems from small arms fire, and an IDF detonation nearby that caused permanent hearing damage
3 of 4 - Sinusitis (30%): This was approved under the PACT Act, and included my toxic exposure memo from the MARSOC Corpsman as well as Gulf War service. I managed the burn pits on our FOB and had to burn trash, human waste and jet fuel daily. Due to how small the FOB was, and proximity of the pits to the wire, I had to stand by the open flames until they had burned off to ensure they didn't spread.
4 of 4 - Headaches (50%): I commented that the headaches are a result of the chronic sinus infections I suffer from my Sinusitis. This one I'm unsure of. It was approved by the VA under TERA, Toxic Exposure Memo and Gulf War service. My headaches are caused by chronic sinus infections. I know it's not a PACT ACT presumptive condition, but was unsure since it was approved by the VA for TERA/GW if it had a shot here.
If you made it this far thank you for reading, and any help you can offer.
First time poster here, but I've spent a few days reviewing everyone's CRSC experiences and reading up on the mentoring from the moderators and ambassadors. I know nothing is bulletproof and from what I've read here, it seems that PTSD is a difficult condition to get approved for CRSC. I was an Intelligence Specialist and I know that rate is not normally associated with Combat Deployments. I'm currently going through the process of getting my CRSC package ready to send to the Navy board, and would like a gut check on if I have a good shot at it being approved (in addition to some secondary conditions), and a further sanity check on if there's anything I'm forgetting to include, and anything that I do not have that might hurt my chances. I have questions regarding what to put in Block G of the DD2860. Apologies in advance for the long post ...
I was medically retired from the Navy in 2020 for PTSD following an incident in 2018 where I was ordered by my Command to seek help from a professional at Behavioral Health. My PTSD stemmed from a 14 month deployment to Afghanistan, where I was sent out as an Individual Augmentee (Navy slang for a one of one deployment, detached from my parent Command and imbedded in a unit, so as a result I don't have much documentation of the events of the deployment other than my 1650/3 and Eval.) I was imbedded in a MARSOC team, and forward deployed to a small FOB for 14 months as a UAV Operator. I ate, slept and lived with this team for that period until my IA was up and it was time to come home. I supported 52+ combat operations directing the team during numerous fire fights via radio, and was responsible for giving the call of Positive ID and authorizing the release of ordinance, resulting in the neutralization of 13 HVTs. During UAV recovery operations, due to the geographic needs of how we had to recover the drone (a capture device on a raised hill that was easily visible to anyone in the village from outside of the FOB) I was targeted by small arms fire and mortar fire on numerous occasions while retrieving the Drones. Additionally our ECP was attacked multiple times, and I was required to defend the checkpoint with my weapon while MARSOC conducted clearing operations.
My BH Doc diagnosed me with severe PTSD and I was shortly Med Boarded after. The PEB found me unfit due to PTSD (CR, AC, CZONE) and the board's PEB findings further stated that "the disability was the direct result of a combat related injury" as well as "The Board finds further that the disability was incurred in the line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict. All board members concurred." When I received my retirement orders, they had the annotations V1 - Disability due to armed conflict and V2 - Disability incurred in a combat zone. I was placed on the TDRL at 70% for PTSD and received a VA rating of 100% P&T. When out-processing the PEBLO told me to make sure that I applied for CRSC due to my situation as I was entitled to it. I've now received my PDRL letter (dropped to 50%) and am going about the process.
What I've included (if I miss it in the list, and it's required on the DD2860/CRSC page, I've included it and just forgot to post) and some notes on each ... Of the things listed below, is there anything I'm missing that severely hurts my chances of being approved?
- Admin: My DD214, Retirement Orders, PDRL Letter, PEB Findings
- Med Records: Two years worth from BH that saw me in the Navy, with detailed comments from the provider on the combat events that resulted in my PTSD, triggers, as well as treatment plans and medication. I do not have records from the deployment period because young me "wasn't a weenie and could never get PTSD or go talk to someone"
- VA Code Sheet and VA Decision Letters (Note here: the VA Decision Letter for PTSD says nothing about combat but that it resulted from a 'stressful event' is this an issue?)
- Evals: I have the Eval from my unit covering 2012-2013, which includes writeups on the combat ops support, and HVTs neutralized from my UAV operations
- Awards: Army Achievement Medal (Note: the 1650/3 here is sparse, due to the nature of Special Operations Task Force and says nothing specific about operations, only "for excellent support to the SOTF mission") as well as my Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Qualification. I do not have a CAB, or any combat specific award and was told by the MARSOC unit that they didn't do those and I was Navy.
- Non-Medical Assessment from my O-5 at the time of the Med Board submitted to the PEB. The NMA clearly states my PTSD stemmed from a combat deployment with MARSOC, and details the amount of operations I took place in, the instances where I had to defend the FOB ECP, circumstances where I took direct and indirect fire during recovery operations, and his recommendation for removal from service due to the severity of my PTSD. (Note here: The Commander that wrote it was NOT the Commander from my war-time chain of command, though he did know my OIC in Afghanistan and reached out to him for confirmation and his comments during the assessment writeup.)
Now onto the DD2860 ... I'm claiming four conditions
1 of 4 - PTSD (70%): I detailed the above events of supporting combat ops, directing MARSOC on the ground during fire fights, ordering the release of ordinance on insurgents, instances where the FOB was breached and I was required to defend it, and instances where I was shot at by small arms and IDF as the cause of my PTSD.
2 of 4 - Tinnitus (10%): I stated that my tinnitus stems from small arms fire, and an IDF detonation nearby that caused permanent hearing damage
3 of 4 - Sinusitis (30%): This was approved under the PACT Act, and included my toxic exposure memo from the MARSOC Corpsman as well as Gulf War service. I managed the burn pits on our FOB and had to burn trash, human waste and jet fuel daily. Due to how small the FOB was, and proximity of the pits to the wire, I had to stand by the open flames until they had burned off to ensure they didn't spread.
4 of 4 - Headaches (50%): I commented that the headaches are a result of the chronic sinus infections I suffer from my Sinusitis. This one I'm unsure of. It was approved by the VA under TERA, Toxic Exposure Memo and Gulf War service. My headaches are caused by chronic sinus infections. I know it's not a PACT ACT presumptive condition, but was unsure since it was approved by the VA for TERA/GW if it had a shot here.
If you made it this far thank you for reading, and any help you can offer.
